Dieticians lose their case against health minister

The cost of visiting a dietician need not be restored to the basic healthcare package, a judge ruled on Tuesday during legal proceedings brought by the Dutch association of dieticians.

Nutritional advice was removed from basic healthcare earlier this year because of cuts, since when the number of people consulting dieticians has halved.
The association brought the case against health minister Edith Schippers in an effort to have the move reversed, the Nos website reports.
However, the judge ruled the association was given fair warning about the move and could have taken steps to counter the extra cost for patients.
Nor is the minister liable for damages for loss of income. ‘Every cut will affect a particular group,’ the judge said.